About

SquidHat Records, LLC is an artist friendly, independent record label created to help talented, interesting, creative and passionate artists record and promote their music, develop their brand and image, and increase their exposure to a larger audience. Our focus includes, but is not limited to, punk, funk and aggressive indie rock.

 Each artist is unique, so each partnership is different.

SquidHat Records works on a project by project basis. We don’t just “put out a record”. Thinking well beyond the offerings of a traditional label, we offer support, guidance and development from start to finish.

 We are artist friendly!

As artists ourselves we mean it when we say that we are artist friendly. No long term contracts and no out of pocket cost to the artist. We provide the necessary start-up funds and we share the profits once costs are recovered. All of our partnerships are 50/50, and publishing remains the property of the artist.

We only work with bands that we like.

If we don’t believe in the music how could we possibly promote and sell it effectively? Every artist on the SquidHat Records roster is a band that we love to see live and genuinely want to help grow as artists while growing their audience.

We bring 25 years of experience to the table.

With over 25 years in the business as recording and touring artists, we have seen the good and the bad of the music industry. SquidHat Records was founded on the principle of helping artists bypass the pitfalls and BS of the industry so that they can do what they do best and get heard by people who will get what they are all about. Utilizing our talents and experience as well as the relationships we’ve built with recording studios, distributors, merchandisers, venues and other musicians, we’ll help hard-working and dedicated artists succeed.

At SquidHat Records, we are fans first.

We want our artists to excel at doing what they love without signing their lives away or losing ownership of their music. We help our artists create a great product and get it in front of likeminded music fans around the world.  You create the music.  We’ll help you find the audience.

Why?

Because music doesn’t have to suck and neither does the music business.

About the Owner

SquidHat Records founder and owner, Allan Carter, started playing music professionally at age 14 in his hometown of Baltimore, MD. A career musician, Allan has recorded and toured with many bands during his 25 year career including Invasion, Sex & Sin, SwingFace and Groove Syndicate in Baltimore, MD., and most recently Hit Me Baby and Attack Ships On Fire in Portland, OR. Allan sincerely hopes his experience and resources will provide an artist friendly voice to some of the many talented bands he has been fortunate enough to see perform over the last few years.

 Why did I start SquidHat Records?

 “Music is my passion and I see a lot of live shows each year. As a touring artist myself, I know that the sale of a CD or T-shirt is how the band makes their money. Often the money they need to get to the next stop on the tour or even to eat. I make it a point to always buy something from the bands I really like and to make sure that they know that there are people out there who appreciate what they do. Lately, I’ve approached several great bands after their shows in hopes of picking up a CD only to find out that they don’t have one, or any merchandise at all. I always leave thinking that it is a real shame and that these bands need to be heard. But it’s the reality of our business. Recording, releasing, and promoting original music is cost prohibitive and time consuming. I want to use my resources, experience and years “in the business” to help up-and-coming artists grow, develop and ultimately be heard.” – Allan Carter